Combined lock pick holder and tool



July l, 1969 v H, L, LOVELESS 3,452,562

COMBI-NED LOCK PICK HOLDER AND TOOL v Filed April 17, 1967 HENRY L. LoVe-Ess INVENTQR.

13m/L. M

AraR/VEY United States Patent O 3,452,562 COMBINED LOCK PICK HOLDER AND TOOL Henry L. Loveless, 2143 Loving, South Houston, Tex. 77587 Filed Apr. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 631,529 Int. Cl. E051) 19/20; A45c 11/32; A47g 29/10 U.S. Cl. 70-394 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention includes a fabricated channel with a pivot pin extending between channel flanges, and on which lock picks are mounted, pick ends to extend rearwardly and to point upwardly. A pick selected for use is pivoted 180 degrees so pick end points downwardly and a sleeve is slid over selected pick and upon the channel to lock selected pick in forward position, other picks extending rearwardly. Then the tool can be inverted to serve as a holder as the selected pick is used.

The invention relates to a lock pick holder which may be carried compactly as in an inside coat pocket, and then when a particular lock pick has been disposed for use the holder includes means which lock the selected pick in operative position While locking the remaining picks in inactive position whereby the holder can serve as the handle for the pick that is putin use.

It is therefore the primary object of the invention to provide a combination lock pick holder and tool of this class which can serve as a handle for the pick selected for use while at the same time locking the unselected picks in inactive position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock pick holder of this class which is of light but strong construction and which is adapted to be clipped into a coat pocket when the lock picks are not to be used.

, It is also a further object of this invention to provide a combined lock pick holder and tool of this class which is easy to adapt to serve as a tool and which is as readily adaptable to serve as a lock pick holder.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification hereinbelow is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the rear, one short side, and one at side of the invention, showing one pick extended for use, with the lock tumbler contacting surfaces of the pick facing downwardly;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

A holder for lock picks 15 is shown as comprising a frame of channel construction 11, with the rear portion of one flange of the channel 11 cut away to leave a predetermined length or ange portion 12 upstanding, while the opposite flange 13 extends continuously from rear to front. The outer portion of the flange portion 12 is shortened from full dimension along the edge 17 by the thickness of a sleeve 14 to be hereinbelow described. Also oppositely, the forward portion of the flange 13 is relieved at 16 to an amount equal to the thickness of sleeve 14.

As Ibest seen in FIG. 3, a cross-pin or pivot pin 18 extends between the flanges 12, 13, and the outer ends of the pin being flush with the outer surfaces of the anges. A raised portion 19 is provided, as shown transversely in rear elevation in FIG. 3 and in longitudinal section elevation in FIG. 2, the raised portion being superimposed upon, or rising above the inner surface of taken along line the channel web 20, and extending from the front end of the channel rearwardly for a predetermined distance less than half the length of the flange portion 12.

The channel 11 is relieved at each corner 21a, 2lb of the web 20 for the length of the flange 12 as best indicated in cross-section in FIG. 3, and as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Then the sleeve 14, in lieu of a fourth side, has opposed feet or slide members 22a, 22b provided along the lengths thereof, to be received in recesses providing downwardly facing shoulders 21a, 2lb.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a lock pick 15 is shown in full lines as having been revolved forwardly so that a rearwardly notched surface 15a is disposed over the raised portion 19 while the lock tumbler pick teeth 15b are faced downwardly. As thus disposed, the lock pick surface 15e, opposite the surface 15a, is disposed upwardly substantially at the elevation of the relieved forward surfaces of the channel anges, as to the elevation of the edge 16 indicated in FIG. 2. Thus, when the sleeve 14 is slid over the forward pick 15, and upon the forward part of the channel 11, as indicated in FIG. 2, the forward pick 15 is locked between the inner surface 14a of the sleeve 14 and the raised portion 19 of the channel web 20. Also, the rearwardly extending lock picks 15, which are not in use, are locked in rearwardly extending position, as the sleeve surface 14a extends in contact with the notched surfaces 15a of the inactive lock picks 15. Also, as this occurs, the lowermost point of the rearwardly, downwardly facing surface 15c of the inactive lock picks 15 each bears upon the upper surface of one of the three bar spring turning wrenches 23a, 23h, 23e shown in FIG. l, and latch such wrenches, as the Wrench 23C, in restrained or latched position, in accordance with the bar spring contour shown in FIG. 3.

It may thus be seen that the holder 10 may serve, at the same time, as holder for all of the lock picks 15 needed in a set, together with the turning wrenches, and also as the handle which an operator may manipulate with better leverage and dexterity, in the course of picking locks, using a pick at a time. The clip 24 shown in FIG. 1, may be provided near the rear end of the channel flange 13, so that the holder 10, with all picks turned rearwar-dly, and the sleeve 14 in place, may be carried in the pocket.

The invention may be applied most advantageously by locksmiths, who can carry to the site of lock service, the picks and turning wrenches for any predetermined type of lock, all in a compact, light holder in the inner coat pocket. Also, such a holder can be of service to government oicials, as narcotic agent, who must constantly Watch for the entry of smuggled goods, as heroin, making entry in locked boxes or containers.

The holder can have broader usages, as where a series of small devices, pivotally mounted in a small light holder construction, may be selectively used, one at a time, the selected device being locked in operative position, while the devices not in use are locked in inoperative position, both by the same locking sleeve, while the holder, weighted by the inoperative devices, serves as the handle by which the device in operative position, is manipulated with better leverage and finer control.

The invention is not limited to the form or embodiment shown in the drawings, but other forms and embodiments, and variations thereof, are all included as long as they fall within the broad spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination holder and tool comprising, a channel construction, a pivot pin extending transversely across the channel flanges substantially centrally thereof and at a predetermined spaced distance from the forward end of the channel, said pivot pin mounting pivotally thereon a series of individually designed devices with rear portions of predetermined elevations, a plurality of the devices comprising the series being successively empolyable as tools to accomplish a selective act, a latch sleeve with side members to fit slidably outwardly of the channel anges and having a top member extending across said side members and opposed feet turned inwardly from the lowermost parts of said side members to engage under shoulder means provide by recesses formed in the channel web adjacent said side members and extending on each side for at least the length of the latch sleeve, the distance from the under surface of the top member to the upper surface of the web being at least equal in elevation to the elevation of the rear portions of said devices, said channel extending rearwardly of said pivot pin beyond said devices.

2. The combinations as claimed in claim 1 in which said devices comprise lock picks.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said devices comprise lock picks, and in which bar spring turning wrenches with handle ends forwardly are insertable under the rearwardly pivoted lock picks whereby said turning wrenches are latched thereby when said sleeve is disposed in latching position.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which a clip is provided on a channel ange so that when all of said devices are pivoted rearwardly and latched by said sleeve, the combination may be carried in a pocket.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which one flange extends from the forward end of the channel only for the length of said sleeve while the other ange extends for the length of the channel.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said sleeve is substantially twice the distance between said pivot pin axis and the front end of said channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,259 1/1928 Young 145-50 2,468,959 5/ 1949 Cannon 70-458 2,982,45 4 5/ 1961 Wolberg 224-5 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,076 8/1899 Austria.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 70-456 

